They've dug into important lessons from the past

St. Anthony students take history projects to state finals.

St. Anthony students take history projects to state finals.

May 28, 2008|JENNIFER OCHSTEIN Tribune Correspondent

SOUTH BEND If you're as smart as a fifth-grader, you know that history repeats itself. Colleen Denunzio, a fifth-grader at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic School in South Bend, is convinced that if people don't learn about the past, they're destined to repeat their mistakes. Perhaps that's one of the reasons she and several of her classmates were state finalists recently at the Indiana History Day State Competition in Indianapolis, which is part of the National History Day Competition. Denunzio spent the school year researching Rosie the Riveters of World War II and put together an exhibit that won her a state medal. Students created projects and researched topics based on the theme Conflict and Compromise in History, said St. Anthony fifth-grade social studies teacher Jeanette McKew. Fifth- and seventh-graders at the school are required to participate in the project. "Students work all year researching a topic, and based on their research they develop a project," McKew said. Projects can include individual and group exhibits, documentaries, performances or historical 1,500 to 2,500-word research papers. All the students participated in the regional competition at Saint Mary's College and then advanced on to the state competition earlier this month after winning regionals. While seventh-grade finalists have the opportunity to progress on to the National History Day contest, competition for fifth-graders ends at the state level, McKew explained. Students have the opportunity to choose and research the topic of their choice, which makes the learning experience more effective and fun since they research something they're interested in. This gives the students the chance to hone their research skills as well as their social skills because they're required to represent themselves and their work, McKew said. Seventh-grader Kailyn Wood was a state runner-up in the competition for her individual performance about Chicago gangster Al Capone and the police officer, Eliot Ness, who relentlessly hunted him. Kailyn told their story through the eyes of a real-life speakeasy girl, Virginia Hill, and mobster Eddie O'Hare. And since she's been told she's good at acting, she said she thought performing the roles to tell the story of Capone and Ness would be her best bet, not to mention fun. Despite that, Kailyn agreed with Colleen that those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it. "History always repeats itself," Kailyn said. "If we learn more about history, maybe we'll learn from mistakes from the past and not do them again." Indeed, fifth-grader Nicholas Miller, another state finalist, chose to perform the part of his grandfather, Ervan Derda, who was a B-17 bomber during the D-Day Invasion of World War II. Nicholas chose to perform as his grandfather because he is a good primary source. Nicholas said his grandfather was thrilled that his grandson chose him. Nicholas figured performing as his grandfather gave him an edge to do as well as his brother Sam and sister Meeghan did in the same competition when they participated. Sam was a state finalist, and Meeghan was a national finalist, their brother said. "I just wanted to do my best so I could show them up," Nicholas said. Not only was he a state finalist, Nicholas was awarded the Outstanding Youth Division Entry. Thank you, Grandpa. Other projects included the passage of Title IX in the 1970s, which gave women the same rights as men to pursue academics and sports opportunities, which was completed by fifth-graders Samantha Kaczynski and Jackie Zakowski; research on the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, completed by fifth-grader Laura Dillon; and a project about the Korean War, completed by fifth-graders Elijah Barstis, Devin Bueche and Michael Sibilla. These projects were also state finalists.